Apparatus for undulating rods



July 9, 1957 R. zAPHlRoPoULos APPARATUS FOR UNDULATING RODS 3Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 15, 1953 REN/V ZPI//ROPOU 05 `July 9, 1957 R.zAPHlRoPoULos APPARATUS FOR UNDULATING RODS .'5 Sheets-Sme?l 2 FiledSept. 15. 1953 July 9, 1957 R. zAPHlRoPoULos l 2,798,337

APPARATUS FOR UNDULATING Boos Filed Sept. l5, 1953 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 5YWMPM United States Patent APPARATUS FOR UNDULATING Roos RennZaphiropoulos, Gakland,v Calif., assignor to Chromatc-TelevisionLaboratoriesylnc., New York, N. Y., a: corporation AoffCalilornia lApplication September.1S,A-19'53', Serial No.- 380,311

7 Claims. (Cl. Vlg-7) The present-.invention relates to, vibrational.damping rodsl of zigzagv character. Suchdamping rods-.fndapplcationfin,.forexample, grid `structures employing :substant'allyf-parallellyarranged andtautly strung conductors normally occupying, a commonplane.VGrid. structures of'this. charactermay be employedas operativecomponents :in .ca-thodefray tubes utilized .for the` :reproduction ofcolor. television.. The: grid str-ucturescomprise 400 to 500M orV morelsmall diameter tautly drawn wire conductors. Any random`disturbance:.may readily cause the grid, wires. to vibrate.atfthefnatural period of theV structure. Likewise; .electrical stressesestablished when operating` potentials ,are appliedl .to certain:strands of l the grid structure relative Vto other strands thereofmayoccasion vibrational tendencies.

vItis a; purpose. of? thisin-vention `to provide apparatus forundulating rods which can be interleavedl amongthe strands of` `thegridy structure. toV provider vibrational damping, VThe.elongatedrods tobe made` intodamp lrods are undulated.throughthe' application oiforcelor pressure effective. a-t.-.generall-y` uniformly spacedpositions/therealongawi-th,successivel positions of pressure applicationbeinggfrom'opposite directions; The rodfsmay` comprise vitreous:material.` having;suitablel insulating. characteristics ,asrnot'tointerfere withlthe electricalfunctions of the. grid structure;Thepressure application-isemaintainedwhileithe rod is softened orplasticized which causes itr to assume ya i generally zigzaglconfiguration in accordance withthe pressureapplied. The: assumed shapeis-preserved while the rod ish-ardened. Generally, the `.rod-is softenedthroughfvthe applicationof^h`eat` effective; throughout r its length ordiferentially; f elective lin a progressive manner aleng the' lengththereof as disclosed iniUnited States pate-nt applicaticmY Serial No.380,205 concurrently filed. by the same: inventor and entitled MethodrofUndu-latilng Rods for Electrode Structures. The said applicationwhas nowissued as U. S. Letters PatentfNo. 2,778,161'granted IanuaryA 22, 1957.-

The-applicaticn of pressure at spaced intervals. along the length' ofthe rod is conveniently accomplished through the" employment of a'. pairof cooperating: sets of generallyl` uniformly spaced.v andsubstantially: rigid elements.'y The rigid elements may comprise.asseriesof tautlvv drawnf, strands disposedin grill=lil e`m=anner- Thestrands comprising. one' grill occupyv positions substantiallyfintermediate the strands of the other grillwhen theyiare closed:The'grills are adapted to be opened toi receive a rod'whichl isvdisposed substantially normal to the plates-or strands. Thegrills arethen closedto interleave'. ther: plates j or" strands thereof and applypressure to the rod at spaced positions therealong. The closed positionis.- maintained While the rodis: softened, preferably by-yheating,spermitting the strands to comeinto a-` common` plane whilezigzaging or undulating the clamped rod.- The heat is then removed orvat. least reducedtofsuch an extent that the rod` isl permittedV toharden finxits distorted condition to comprise an undulated damp. rod.Damp. rod'szin .accordancewithj the A:foregoing are placed in theelectrical, grid structure in spaced relation to prevent or at leastdamp vibrations.

In order that:the.damp rods may be mass produced, a length ofstockmaterial, such `as insulatingvitreous'material corresponding to a dozenor more damp rod lengths is undulated and then cut into suitablelengths. A supply of the damp rod material may be stored .upon a largerotatable drum vwhich'is driveny in synchronisml-with` a cuttermechanism interposed between the*l drum and a cradle adapted toereceive'the multiple lengthdamp rod stock to be undulated. The cradle isdisposed above. a grill so that subsequenttothe cutting. operation,irmay be tilted to place the multiple -length damp rod 'stock 1inposi-tion onv theA grill for the clamping operation; Amechanismds-provided to close a second'. Vgrillovertthe damp,4 rodstock- 'thereby atford-in'gpressure `appli'cationiat fdamp rodsfi of:required or normal.' length; 'The` entire operationf'is: synchronized'through a common d'rive'shaft requiring onlya single-'source of ipower.

Accordingly, arnongrtheobiects of the'Vpresentinventio'nt.arethe-"followingg: the: provision vofi automaticallyoperable 'apparatus y for undulating rods; Vand* the provisionofzapp'aratus forma'ss Aproducing 'zigzagdamp rods.

The' present invention willffur'th'er b'e described with reference' tofther.' accompanying drawingI wherein:

Fig. l is ai View inr si'deelevationiof'apparatus'iii a'ccordance with'Vthe presentinvention;

Fig.' 2 is aviewinplan'ofthe structure of "Fig: l` as seen along a`plane marked`2-2 ofthat figure;

Fig; 3i is a` View inend1 elevation of the structureA of Fig; l,the-plane of secti'on'being indicated by the line marked 3-3;; v

Fig. 4'YY is ar cross section-alviewfof a pair` of hinged grills in openposition;

Fig. 5 is a View of the grills of'Fi'g 4' in closed or operativerelation; v

Fig. lisan isometric view of va portion of the grills of Figs. 4J`and5;.

Fig'. 7 is aview inelevation of a heater in proximity withdainp rodstoel; being undulatedf;

Fig; 8 isV a'detailedisometric showing'ofaportion of Vthe cradle andguiding lingers ofthe 'structure of Fig. 1';

Fig. 9 isa viewin elevation'ofthe cradle and guiding means fandoperating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 10: is a view in end'elevation of the grills and operatingmechanisml therefor;

Fig; ll shows in elevation-a suitablecutting' mechanism andlopera-tingineczhanismtherefor;-

Fig; l2 is aview inelcvationfof mechanism for con*- trolling theposition` of thefheater;

Fig. 12a shows in side elevation a-suitablecam and followerarrangementfor positioningthe heater;

Fig. 13 isa schematic showingon enlarged scale of the relationshipmaintainedibetween the strands held bythe grills, as shown by Figs.l4and 5, with respect to the damp rod stock at the time of 'initiatingthe undulating operation.; and

Fig. 13a is-a schematic representationof tle coplanar relationshipachieved by the strands following lundulation of'the damp rod stockland-exemplies also the relative shaping of the damp rodl stock withrespect to the coplanarly positioned strands.

Referring now to: the drawings and particularly `to the first threeIfigures, a .complete'machine is `shown -for' fabrii' cating a multiplelength damp rod. A rectangular frame n -21 is provided to support thevarious components comprising the undulating apparatus. A large drum 23contains a supply of the damp rod material 25 which is fed Athrough apair of felt rollers 27 and along a fixed open chute 29 to a rotatablecradle 31. The damp rod stock 25 is preferably vitreous strand materialhaving a di- -ameter ranging in the neighborhood of three to six milsVdepending again upon the size of the grid structure in course upon thenumber of individual damp rods which :are to be cut from the multipledamp rod stock operated upon. At spaced intervals along the length ofthe cradle there is provided a plurality of fingers or guides 35. The

upper reach of each guide is spaced sufliciently above the :cradle topermit the damp rod stock 25 to pass therebeneath. The cradle 31 ispivotally supported from the `frame 21 on the pins 37 for partialrotation to slide the damp rod stock 25 along the guides 35 onto a lowergrill 39 which is preferably lixed in position. An upper grill 41 ishinged to the lower grill 39 along the pivot axis 43 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The grills are shown constructed of taut strands 45 arranged over spacerbars 47. A continuous length of wire is stretched back and forth betweenthe spacer bars 47 of each grill to provide the parallelly arrangedstrands 45. A rectangular base 49 is provided with notches 51 (Fig. 6)at spaced intervals along outer edges thereof so that the Stringing wiremay be passed through a notch 51 and underneath a projection 53 and backout an adjacent notch 51 to provide an anchoring means for the strands.A slotted guide bar 55 is secured to an outside edge of each of thespacer bars 47, as for example by spot welding, to locate the individualstrands 45 in spaced apart relation. While the slots 56 of the guide bar55 are illustrated as substantially uniformly spaced, it is to beIunderstood that the spacing of the slots and hence strands .the lever57. The knife-like edges of the spacer bars 47 insure that the strands45 occupy a common plane -when the grills are closed. However, when thedamp rod stock 25 is interposed between the grills, the strands 45 aredisplaced from the normal common plane (Fig. and exert pressure atspaced intervals along the stock 25 from opposite directions. The upperguide fingers 35 extend slightly beyond the lower guide lingers to passbetween the strands 45 `and to an ultimate position approximatelyhalfway across the grid 39. Hence the damp `rod stock 25 is depositionedon the lower grid and then rolled into proper position substantiallynormal to the strands 45 for clamping.

With the damp rod stock 25 clamped between the grills 39 and 41 it issoftened by heat developed by a heater 61. The heater 61 is comprised ofa ceramic holder 63 adapted to contain a heater filament 65. The ceramicholder 63 is supported above a frame cross arm 67 by an upriser 69hinged at 70 to an end thereof (Fig. 7) to permit the filament to beswung into proximity with the clamped damp rod stock for heating andthen lowered by the'driving mechanism to be explained in detailhereafter. Electrical connection is established to the heater filament65 through a conventional electric plug 85 and cord 87. An adjustablerheostat 89 is connected between the plug 85 andthelamentS to providecontrol over the amount of current delivered to the filament and hencethe heat applied to the damp rod stock 25.

Immediately prior to the initiation of the heating operation, as is alsoshown at the left of Fig. 7, the strands 45 supported by both the upperand lower grills 41 and 39 are forced out of their normal common planeby the damp rod stock 25, the rod stock being generally straight, asshown by Fig. 13, and the strands 45 being arranged so that alternatestrands are on the same side of the rod stock. The displacement betweenthe centers of the strands 45 is then equal to the diameter of the rodstock plus the diameter of the strand. By Fig. 13a the generalrelationship of the strands 45 to the rod stock 25, as also shown byFig. 7, is exemplified on an enlarged scale. In Fig. 13a it will beobserved that following heating of the rod stock 25 that the strands 45which have exerted forces againstl the rod stock from opposite sidescause the rod to undulate as the strands 45 approach the indicatedcoplanar relationship so that strands at either side of the rod stockfinally are positioned (as when the color-control grid is in use) sothat their centers are all in the common plane. For this condition itwill be observed that the strands have moved downwardly or upwardly, asthe case may be, by distances equal to one-half the sum of the strandand damp rod cross sectional dimension, the strand dimension beingindicated `as d and the damp rod stock dimension being indicated as d inFig. 13 showing particularly the relative displacement.

After the damp rod stock 25 has been undulated the grill 41 is openedvia lever 57 to permit a blast of air from an exhaust pipe 91 to movethe undulated multiple damp rod olf of the grill 39 and down theguideway formed by the arms 93 to a cutter (not shown) where theundulated multiple damp rod is sectionalized into individual damp rods.

The driving and control mechanism is operated from a motor 101 whichdrives a bevel gear 103 through a gear reduction box 105. A drive shaft107 is driven through the bevelled gear 103 coacting with a coplanarbevel gear 109 which also transmits motion through a spur gear 111 xedto a vertical driving shaft 113. The vertical shaft j113 turns the drum23 to unwind vitreous supply material therefrom through a pair of gears115 and 117. The

langular speed of the drum 23 is correlated with the other operations sothat a suitable stock length of vitreous material 25 is placed on thecradle 31 during the time in -which the previous stock is beingundulated. After such a length has been unreeled onto the cradle 31 theame cutter 33 rises to the position shown in Fig. 1 to cut the vitreousmaterial. This is accomplished through a springloaded follower 121 whichis urged against a cam 123 fixed on the drive shaft 107. The spring isnot shown as such follower arrangements are well known. The follower 121is adapted for vertical motion through the sleeve 125. Its upperextremity is connected to a lever arm 125 which supports the flamecutter 33 and which pivots about a fixed axis 127. The flame cutter isnormally in the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. l1 and is onlyraised to the cutting position once for each revolution of the driveshaft 107. The cam 123 is oriented on vthe drive shaft 107 such that theflame cutter is raised to its operative or cutting position after thecontinuously -driven drum has unreeled the required amount of vitreousstock. The flame type cutter requires only a split second to cut the 3mil glass rod and accomplishes the cutting function without disturbingthe position of the damp rod stock 25. However, other known types ofcutters may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The next step in the overall operation is that of depositing the lengthof stock retained by the cradle 31 onto the fixed grill 39. This isaccomplished by a second cam 131 also fixed to the common drive Shaft107. A vertical follower 133 is guided by the `sleeve 134 and springloaded to bear against the cam 131. The follower ,133 is loosely coupledto a lever 135L which extends to one-of the `pins 37'setin: the` backredgefof .thel cradle 3.1.1 The cam'. 131xpermits: .the cradle normally'to occupy asubstantially horizontalposition' and to be `tilted into theposition 'shown.in.dottedgoutlinezini Fig; 9 once for each revolutionlof the fcomm'on driveshaft 107. This errables the damp'` rodstoclcLto'.slide-.down-thel guide fingers 35 and: into positionionth'eiiixedfgrilll39.y

Y The uppergrill.411must occupyitsiupper or open position topermitthedamp rodl'stockto b'e-.properly located by the guide fingers 35. Thisis accomplished-'by afurther cam 141 fixed to the common drive 'shaft107. The lever 57 which pivots-.the` uppergrill 41?V about the fixedaxis 43 is connected. to a follower 143 which is spring urged againstthe cam 141 andwhich' is confined to vertical movementrbythe-sleeve145.-V The spring (not shown) incthis'instanceisV of-the`heavy duty 'type to accommod-ate thelweight of the sgrillfll..v Heatingof the dampI rod stock y25 isll accomplishedwhen:the-:ceramic holder 63isLin the:position.shown.in..Fig..7 oras shown indotted outline in Fig.12. A cam 151 shown in side elevation in Fig. 12a is fixed to the commondrive shaft 107 (Fig. l) to drive a follower 153 adapted for verticalmovement through the sleeve 155 secured to the cross arm 67. The upperextremity of the follower 153 fits an indentation in the lower surfaceof a lever 157 which pivots about a fixed point '9 provided by a support161. The other end of the lever 157 is coupled to a stub 163 dependingfrom the ceramic holder 63 by a pin 165 which extends through a slot 167oriented longitudinally of the lever 157. The ceramic holder 63 is movedinto its upper or heating position once during each cycle, as will beseen from a comparison of the cams of Figs. 9 through 12. This occursshortly after the grill 41 is closed. Heating requires only a shortinterval of the cycle and consequently the ceramic holder 63 is quicklylowered by gravity allowing time for cooling (which occurs almostinstantaneously) during the interval of closure of the grills. Theactual spacing between the heater filament 65 and the `damp rock stock25 may be of the order of 3732" which is represented in Fig. 7 in aslightly exaggerated showing.

The cam 141 is indented over a sufficiently large portion of itsperiphery to permit the grill 41 to remain in its open position longenough for a previously undulated multiple damp rod to be removed and aIdamp rod stock to be placed thereon for Subsequent undul-ation. Theblast of air from the exhaust pipe 91 which removes a multiple damp rodfrom the grill 39 is controlled by a solenoid air valve 171 (Fig. l)-operated by a fixed microswitch 173. The microswitch 173 is fixed tothe frame 21 by a support 175 in the position shown in Fig. lO such thatthe 'base 49 of the upper grill 41 depresses the plunger 177 when thegrill is in its fully open position. The microswitch 173 actuatessolenoid valve 171 to open the Yair supply which passes through hose 179and exhausts out pipe 91. The plunger 177 is released when the grill 41starts to close thus closing off the air while still permitting time forthe deposition of the vitreous stock because of the gradual contour ofthe cam 141 and sharp contour of the cam 131.

The entire foregoing action is accomplished during a single cycle ofoperation which may require a full minute. The drive shaft 107 and cams123, 131, 141 and 151 turn one complete revolution each cycle. The camsare oriented on the common drive shaft 107 in the positions shown inFigs. 9 through 12a. The opening and closing of the grill 41 requiresapproximately 135 revolution of the drive shaft 107 allowing 225 forheating, undulating and cooling. The rheostat 89 permits the currentthrough the filament 65 to be adjusted so that heating may beaccomplished quickly allowing ample time for sufHcient cooling of thesmall diameter vitreous rod prior to discharge.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for undulating an elongated rod comprisinginf combination',aiirst pluralityv of sp'acedsu'bstantiallly .tautV .strandsfi definingatY least arcommon plane, a second' plurality of Fspacedfsubstantiallyftaut strands also defningi'at lea'stia commorrplane;means'for position@ ing the rodfonl the 'rstpluralitvandsubstantiallynormali .tov they :strands thereof, means for closing.v thei second plurality yover ftherrodfwith the `strands vof the second plu#ralittyf interleaving with' 1 the .strands of the first plurality toiapply pressure againstV the: rod at .spacedl positions therealong; means4for heatingthe so-clamped. rod topermit the strands. to undulate it in.assuming 'substantially coplanarzrelati'on, and means .forrelievingithe' heat .with the strands in coplanar relation to insurepermanent deformationuofth'e: rod;

2. Apparatusfifor"V undulatingE ani-elongated rod. comprising,in1comoination,j.a pair 'of cooperating setsfofspaced..andsuhstantially` rigid elements, means for Vposiitioning the.rodibetweeniim` sets :t-and. substantially normal .to `tliey elementsthereof, .means :for closing ther-sets to interleave theelementsthereof.arrdffapply pressurefzto the rod, means for introducing heat to the rodwhile under pressure to permit the elements to undulate it in assumingsubstantially coplanar relation, and means for relieving the heat withthe sets of elements closed to insure permanent deformation of the rod.

3. Apparatus for undulating a vitreous rod comprising, in combination, apair of cooperating grills each including an open frame and a pluralityof taut strands disposed thereacross in spaced relation, the strands ofone of the grills being adapted for location respectively between thestrands 0f the other of the grills when the latter are closed, means forcyclically opening and closing the grills, means for locating thevitreous rod between the grills when open and substantially normal tothe strands thereof so that closure of the grills over the vitreous rodapplies pressure thereto through the taut strands, means for introducingheat to the vitreous rod while under pressure to permit the strands toundulate it in assuming substantially coplanar relation, land means fordischarging the undulated vitreous rod when the grills are open.

4. Apparatus for undulating a vitreous rod comprising, in combination, apair of cooperating grills each including a plurality of generallyuniformly spaced and substantially taut strands, means for cyclicallyclosing the grills to interleave respectively the strands thereof in lacommon plane, means for positioning the vitreous rod between the grillsIsubstantially normal to the elements thereof such that adjacent strandsapply pressure thereto from opposite directions, means for introducingheat to the vitreous rod while under pressure to permit the strands toundulate it in assuming 'substantially coplanar relation, and means forrelieving the heat with the grills closed to insure permanentdeformation of the rod.

5. Apparatus for undulating elongated vitreous rod material comprising,in combination, a pair of cooperating grills each including an openframe and a plurality of taut strands disposed thereacross in spacedrelation, means for cyclically closing the grills respectively tointerleave the strands thereof in a common plane, means for cutting thevitreous rod to lengths of substantially the extent of the plurality ofstrands, means for locating the cut vitreous rod between the grills andsubstantially normal to the strands thereof so that upon closure of thegrills pressure is applied against the rod from opposite directions bythe strands of the respective grills, means for introducing heat to thevitreous rod while under pressure to permit undulation thereof by thestrands in assuming substantially coplanar relation, and means fordischarging the undulated vitreous rod when the grills are open.

6. Apparatus for undulating vitreous rods comprising, in combination, apair of hinged grills adapted to be opened and closed, each of thegrills including an open frame and a plurality of taut strands disposedthereacross in spaced relation, the strands of one of the grills intenleaving in a common plane with the strands of the other of the grillswhen the latter are closed, cyclically operable means for locating avitreous rod between the open grills and substantially normal to strandsthereof, means for cyclically closing the grills to apply pressure tothe rod at spaced positions therealong and subsequently opening thegrills, means for introducing heat to the vitreous rod while underpressure to permit undulation thereof by the strands in assumingsubstantially coplanar relation, means for removing the heat from thevitreous rod While the grills are closed to insure permanent deformationthereof, and means for discharging the undulated vitreous rod.

7. Apparatus for undulating elongated vitreous rods comprising, incombination, a rst set of generally uniformly spaced and substantiallytaut strands, a second set of generally uniformly spaced andsubstantially taut strands, hinge means connecting the first and secondset of strands to permit the strands to be closed into interleaved andcoplanar relation, means for positioning a strands closed toY insurepermanent deformation of the rod, and means elective to discharge thedeformed rod from the open sets.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.7,125 Seitzinger May 23, 1876 5,005 Jenkins Mar. 6, 1847 2,239,546 Blacket a1 Apr. 22,1941 2,288,507 Whitmire et a1. June 30, 1942 2,551,311

Batchell May 1, 1951

